Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro and adhesion to chondroitin-4-sulfate by the heparan sulfate mimetic PI-88 and other sulfated oligosaccharides

A panel of sulfated oligosaccharides was tested for antimalarial activity and inhibition of adhesion to the placental malaria receptor chondroitin-4-sulfate (CSA). The heparan sulfate mimetic PI-88, currently undergoing phase 11 anticancer trials, displayed the greatest in vitro antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (50% inhibitory concentration of 7.4 mu M) and demonstrated modest adhesion inhibition to cell surface CSA.